Le Saux gives Ranieri another alternative

Graeme Le Saux has been included in the Chelsea squad to face Tottenham in the second leg of the Worthington Cup semifinal at White Hart Lane tonight.

The former England international missed Sunday's 5-1 drubbing of West Ham because of a virus but his return will give Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri a selection headache.

Ranieri is likely to stick with the 3-4-1-2 formation that saw Chelsea dispose of Norwich in the FA Cup as well as give the Hammers a masterclass lesson in finishing.

However, it will leave no room for Le Saux, who returned to full training this week, unless Ranieri decides to leave out Mario Stanic.

Ranieri also has Italian midfielder Sam Dalla Bona and Slavisa Jokanovic back from suspension. Spaniard Albert Ferrer is included in the squad but is unlikely to figure.

Meanwhile, Chelsea skipper Marcel Desailly is pinning his hopes on maintaining the club's remarkable run against Tottenham and earning a place in the Worthington Cup Final against Blackburn. Chelsea have not been beaten by a Spurs side for 12 years in a spell totalling 27 games and Desailly knows how much that record means to the fans.

The French international said: "Being in a final at Cardiff would be a special day for our fans. The fact that it is an early chance to secure a place in a European competition is important, too. If you don't have anything at the end you feel like it has been an empty season.

"We have been losing a lot against smaller teams so we are not sure about anything in the Premiership. But playing Tottenham is special because we have always done well against them and the players understandthe importance of this derby game to the fans."

On his website, Desailly also praised Ranieri's tactics in the 5-1 win over West Ham, with a back three featuring himself, John Terry - who, despite his off-field problems, has been tipped as a future England captain by chairman Ken Bates - and William Gallas.

Of compatriot Gallas, Desailly added: "It was good for him to play in this formation as it will bring him a lot more experience and many more appearances.

"I was happy for him as he has adapted to the English game and has played well." Behind that defensive trio was goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who is relishing the chance of facing his close friend Gustavo Poyet again following the midfielder's summer departure from Chelsea.

"When I saw him wearing a Tottenham shirt in the Chelsea tunnel it was a strange feeling, but football is like that sometimes," he said.

Chelsea have warned travelling fans not to step out of line in the wake of missiles being thrown at Les Ferdinand and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during the first leg, sparking a Football Association investigation.